LOGINShe was fire—and she knew I was the one already burning.Nico murmured something at her ear. She smiled, then laughed, tipping her head back. Her throat exposed. His hand too close to her spine.She flicked her gaze toward me—barely a glance. Then turned away.My jaw tightened.“Jesus,” Cooper mutte
WESLEY's POVI arrived fashionably late, as expected. A calculated move—enough to rattle Mona and remind the rest of them I only appeared when I damn well pleased. Cooper flanked me in silent formation, his eyes sweeping the grand marble entryway like a soldier entering enemy territory. Technically,
But it wasn’t until I felt the sudden presence at my side that I knew the temperature had dropped.Wesley.He didn’t say a word, but the silence around him roared. He was dressed in his usual sharp lines and shadowed intensity, but something about him now was coiled—tightly held fury barely hidden b
CARA's POVThe zipper hissed softly as I adjusted the back of my dress, smoothing the fabric over my hips. The satin clung like a second skin, emerald green and deliberate—just enough modesty to pass as elegant, just enough curve to command attention. I glanced at my reflection, tilting my chin slig
I stood, calm and controlled.“She’s neither.”Mona’s eyes gleamed as she closed the last of the space between us. She was close enough that I could see the scar near her collarbone—the one she kept visible on purpose.“She should be one or the other,” she whispered. “Soon. Because people are watchi
WESLEY's POVThe hum of the servers was the only sound that didn’t piss me off tonight.I leaned against the edge of the control desk, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the monitors. Grainy footage from every inch of the estate flickered across the wall—shadows passing through halls, staff rotations logge
CARA's POVThe gown slid over my skin like it had been stitched from molten silk. A deep wine-red, it clung to my hips, dipped low across my chest, and exposed more of my back than I was used to showing. Every movement I made felt curated, deliberate—like the fabric had its own agenda.Golden light
Public summits.Wesley cleared his throat, measured. “I don’t think Cara’s ready for that kind of crowd. It’s not her scene.”It wasn’t a defense—it was a deflection.Pamela’s laugh was sharp, crystal and venom. “Bullshit,” she said, grinning over the rim of her glass. “The earlier people know who s
CARA's POVThe dining room looked like something out of a Renaissance painting—long mahogany table polished so smooth it reflected candlelight like still water, gold silverware catching soft glints under the chandelier’s glow. Everything gleamed. Everything whispered power.I was seated to the left
I smiled, but it didn’t quite reach my chest. “It’s just dinner,” I said, echoing her tone sarcastically.“Cara, seriously—it is just dinner. You’re a curator. Curate your outfit, your words, and your wine glass. You’ve got this.”I laughed, but it came out thinner than I wanted. “You didn’t see the







